Call Before You Dig

Planning a home improvement job? Planting a tree? Installing a fence or deck? Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hire a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.

One easy phone call to 811 begins the process to have your underground utility lines located. Local One Call Center operators will ask for the location of your job and route the call to your local utility companies, including Pioneer Electric Cooperative. Representatives from each utility will visit your home or property to mark your lines with color-coded spray paint or flags. Once the lines have been marked, you will know what areas to avoid in your digging project. There is no charge for this line location service, and it could save you time and money. For more information, visit the Alabama 811 website.

Marking instructions (specific instructions as to where the work is taking place).

These questions are asked so that the customer service representative can determine which utility companies should be notified and which should not. This process makes sure that all the utilities at your worksite are located, and the underground facility owners who do not have lines in your general area are not needlessly notified.

Calling before you dig ensures that any publicly owned underground facilities will be marked according to the APWA color code so that you can dig safely.

Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives is a national network of electric cooperatives across 46 states that provides resources and leverages partnerships to help member cooperatives and their employees better engage and serve their members. By working together, Touchstone Energy cooperatives stand as a source of power and information to their 32 million member-owners every day.